Day 1: Arusha – Central Serengeti (Seronera Valley)

Begin your safari with a flight or scenic drive from Arusha to the Central Serengeti, known for its abundant resident wildlife. Upon arrival, enjoy your first game drive through Seronera Valley, famous for sightings of lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and large hyena clans. Explore the acacia-dotted plains and follow the Seronera River, where leopards often rest on tree branches. In the evening, settle into your lodge or tented camp surrounded by the magical Serengeti landscape.

Overnight: Mid-range lodge or tented camp in Central Serengeti.

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Central Serengeti

Spend a full day exploring the Central Serengeti’s wildlife-rich zones. Enjoy a sunrise game drive when predators are most active, followed by extensive viewing of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and numerous antelope species. Depending on migration movement, early herds may be visible as they move northward. Your guide will track wildlife activity to offer the best possible sightings.

Overnight: Mid-range lodge or tented camp in Central Serengeti.

Day 3: Central Serengeti – Northern Serengeti (Kogatende Region)

After breakfast, begin your journey toward the Northern Serengeti, one of Africa’s last truly wild regions. The landscape becomes more rugged and remote as you approach Kogatende, where the Mara River snakes through rocky terrain.

Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive along the riverbanks. Keep an eye out for crocodiles, hippos, lions, elephants, and the first groups of wildebeest gathering near the river—signals that the crossings may happen any moment.

Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in Northern Serengeti.

Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive – Mara River Crossing

Today is dedicated entirely to tracking the Great Wildebeest Migration near the Mara River. Your guide will position you at strategic crossing points where massive herds gather before launching into the treacherous river. Witness the intensity of thousands of wildebeests plunging into the water as crocodiles wait below—one of the most dramatic wildlife moments in Africa. The experience is unpredictable and thrilling, with crossings sometimes occurring multiple times a day.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush and continue exploring the Northern Serengeti’s river banks and rolling plains.

Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in Northern Serengeti.

Day 5: Full-Day Game Drive in Northern Serengeti

Spend another full day exploring the Northern Serengeti, maximizing your chances of witnessing additional river crossings. Wildlife density increases dramatically here during migration season, providing excellent opportunities to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and large eland herds. Your guide will follow herd movements and choose the best viewing routes, giving you uninterrupted time with the migration.

Overnight: Mid-range tented camp in Northern Serengeti.

Day 6: Northern Serengeti – Central Serengeti

After breakfast, enjoy one last early morning game drive near the Mara River before heading back south toward the Central Serengeti.

Arrive in the afternoon for another game drive through the Seronera Valley, where resident wildlife remains active year-round. This provides a perfect balance between migration sightings and classic Serengeti game viewing.

Overnight: Mid-range lodge or tented camp in Central Serengeti.

Day 7: Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Arusha

Enjoy a final morning game drive as you exit the Serengeti through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying scenic views and potential last sightings of wildlife. Continue your drive to Arusha, arriving in the afternoon, where your unforgettable Mara River Crossing safari comes to an end.

Overnight: Tour ends (extra night in Arusha available upon request).